Is Samsung Planning To Enter Into Handheld Gaming Console Market? Here's What We Know

The patent images provide intriguing insights into Samsung's potential handheld gaming console, which seems to draw inspiration from the company's Galaxy Z Flip foldables.

What sets Samsung's potential device apart is its innovative foldable design.

Source : Unsplash/BoliviaInteligente

Samsung appears to be exploring the handheld gaming market, as hinted by details in a recently surfaced patent document. If the South Korean tech giant proceeds with launching such a device, it could position itself as a competitor to established gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch, Asus ROG Ally X, and Steam Deck. What sets Samsung's potential device apart is its innovative foldable design, which could offer greater portability and convenience compared to its rivals.

Samsung Handheld Console Is Expected To Work Like This

A patent document (via 91Mobiles) titled "Electronics games console" assigned to Samsung Display describes the design for a handheld gaming device, along with several drawings that show the design of the purported console from several angles, as well as some of its features.

The patent images provide intriguing insights into Samsung's potential handheld gaming console, which seems to draw inspiration from the company's Galaxy Z Flip foldables. Fig. 8 suggests a design reminiscent of the clamshell-style Galaxy Z Flip series, highlighting the portability advantage a foldable format could bring to the handheld gaming market.  

While the form factor aligns with Samsung's foldable phones, other illustrations, such as Fig. 1, reveal additional gaming-specific features, including joysticks. Figs. 2 and 3 indicate the strategic placement of these components, ensuring the device can still fold shut seamlessly. The images also suggest that Samsung is considering protective measures for the display, especially since Fig. 3 shows a visible crease, a characteristic of foldable screens.  

When folded, as depicted in Figs. 11 and 12, some buttons and controls might remain accessible along the edges of the device, adding convenience. Additionally, Fig. 13 highlights the hinge mechanism connecting the two halves, giving us a glimpse of how the device might operate in its compact form. This patent hints at Samsung's innovative approach to blending gaming functionality with foldable design.

The existence of a patent document doesn't guarantee that Samsung will bring the described product to market, but it’s intriguing to imagine how such a device might perform if it were ever launched.